Leinster edge out Treviso

Leinster took the spoils in their RaboDirect PRO12 showdown with Treviso on Sunday, winning 21-20 at Stadio Monigo.

Leinster claimed the spoils in their PRO12 clash with Treviso on Sunday, winning 21-20 at Stadio Monigo.

Tries from Lote Tuqiri and Noel Reid gave the Irish province a 12-10 lead at the interval, with Ludovico Nitoglia's touchdown and Mat Berquist's penalty responding for the Italian outfit.

Jimmy Gopperth kicked two penalties to Berquist's one after the break before Angelo Esposito went over to give Treviso a narrow lead.

However, Gopperth's 75th minute three-pointer snatched a late win which takes them into the top-four.

Both teams went into the game without a number of their international stars, but it was the visitors that initially dealt better with their Ireland players away.

Two tries in the first 15 minutes signalled the depth that Matt O'Connor has in the squad. Firstly, Tuqiri, who scored in the 2003 World Cup final for Australia, touched down before Reid scampered over. Gopperth converted the second score as Leinster took a 12-0 lead.

However, Treviso showed excellent spirit to come back into the game.

They have struggled so far this season, having only won two PRO12 games going into this encounter, but they troubled the three-time Heineken Cup champions in the first half.

After Berquist had kicked a penalty, the fly-half converted Nitoglia's try to reduce the arrears to 12-10 at the break.

Like in the opening period, Leinster started the second just as impressively with Gopperth kicking successive penalties to take them 18-10 ahead.

Once again, Benetton fought back and their fly-half responded with his third from the tee before Esposito's converted touchdown took them into the lead for the first time.

But Treviso couldn't hold on and the Irish province's pivot kicked a late penalty for a dramatic win.